SNP a step closer to power

Scotland does not have a government yet, although a step towards the formation of an administration was taken yesterday when the SNP struck a deal with the Scottish Greens to work together at Holyrood. But a new lexicon is already evolving to describe and define the new political era. The phrase confidence and supply has achieved a cachet at Holyrood and among observers of the parliament without an administration. It is a product of proportional representation in the electoral process and has a habit of resulting in coalition or minority government. Scotland is heading towards the latter option, with Alex Salmond as First Minister.